Answered by: Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Question:
What’s the ruling of killing a fly in the Masjid?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
In Shariah, it is permissible to annihilate wasps, bugs and insects which are harmful to one’s life. 1
However, wasps, bugs and insects which are not harmful should not be killed. Innocuous pests should be moved away smoothly without killing them.
Likewise, it is prohibited to burn them. 2
On the contrary, where there is no other alternative to save oneself from the harms of a creature, only then can one resort to burning them. 3
In the aforementioned case, it would not be permissible to kill any fly in the Masjid without exercising an alternative method and without any valid excuse.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 الْهِرَّةُ إذَا كانت مُؤْذِيَةً لَا تُضْرَبُ وَلَا تُعْرَكُ أُذُنُهَا بَلْ تُذْبَحُ بِسِكِّينٍ حَادٍّ كَذَا في الْوَجِيزِ لِلْكَرْدَرِيِّ
Fatawaa Alamghiri, 361/5, Darul Fikr, Beirut. Second Edition, 1310 Hijri.
Al-Bahrur Raaiq, Ibn Nujaim, 232/8, Darul Kutub Al-Islami.
2 (وَ) كُرِهَ كُلُّ تَعْذِيبٍ بِلَا فَائِدَةٍ
Raddul Muhtar, Ibn Abidin, 296/6, Darul Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, 1412 H.
3 إذَا كَثُرَتْ الْكِلَابُ فِي قَرْيَةٍ وَأَضَرَّتْ بِأَهْلِهَا أُمِرَ أَرْبَابُهَا بِقَتْلِهَا، فَإِنْ أَبَوْا رُفِعَ الْأَمْرُ إلَى الْقَاضِي حَتَّى يَأْمُرَ بِذَلِكَ. اهـ.
Raddul Muhtar, Ibn Abidin, 570/2, Darul Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, 1412 H.
الضرورات تبيح المَحْظُورات
Al-Qawaidul Fiqhiyyah, Abdullah Bin Juday, Page 43.